Purdue safety Jacob Thieneman: 'Everything checks out'

The Tigers work out at Vanderbilt Stadium ahead of Friday's game against Purdue.
Montgomery Advertiser

Fifth-year co-captain set to return after missing the last three games

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Jacob Thieneman of Purdue wraps up Caleb Reams of Illinois after a short pass reception in the second half Saturday, October 13, 2018, in Champaign, Illinois. Purdue thumped Illinois 46-7.(Photo: John Terhune/Journal & Courier)Buy Photo

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Despite missing three games, Jacob Thieneman ranks fourth on the team in tackles

Purdue needs its fifth-year safety and co-captain back on the field after missing the final three regular-season games against Minnesota, Wisconsin and Indiana.

Thieneman suffered a shoulder injury after the win against Iowa in early November but also dealt with a staph infection that zapped his strength and reduced his weight.

“It is the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through,” said Thieneman, who ranks fourth in tackles, despite missing three games. “I was down for a little bit, lost some weight. It took a lot of energy out of me.”

Friday’s Music City Bowl matchup against Auburn is Thieneman’s final college game. Although the rehabilitation process challenged Thieneman, missing this game wasn’t an option.

“I was always going to push it. I wanted to play. I was determined to play in the bowl game. I was pushing it the whole way,” he said.

To regain his strength and add weight, Thieneman had to eat more than normal. He was out of his eating routine. Although it doesn’t sound difficult, it was for Thieneman.

“I had to put all that weight back on,” he said. “I haven’t had to gain weight for a long time, probably since high school.”

The strength and conditioning staff eased Thieneman back into individual drills and team periods during the last month. He put himself in a position to absorb contact to test the condition of his shoulder.

So far, so good even though the Boilermakers haven’t conducted any live tackling during bowl practices.

“It was different when I first started practicing because I wasn’t quite in shape, my body felt different and I was fighting to get that energy up and get that strength back up,” Thieneman said. “There was a little rust there from just being out of it. It only took a couple of practices and mentally I was fine.”

Backfield duo

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D. J. Knox of Purdue breaks free for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against Ohio State Saturday, October 20, 2018, at Ross-Ade Stadium. Purdue upset the No. 2 ranked Buckeyes 49-20.(Photo: John Terhune/Journal & Courier)

Friday is the end for D.J. Knox and Markell Jones in terms of college games. They’ve competed against each other in three of the last four seasons trying to earn snaps and playing time.

They’ve made each other better.

“Even on Senior Day, we got a little teary-eyed,” Knox said. “We hugged each other and said, ‘I love you, man.’ We’ve been on this journey together the whole time here.”

Knox arrived at Purdue in 2014 but suffered an ACL injury in the 2016 spring game. That dropped Knox into Jones’ academic class where they’ll exit the program together.

Knox and Jones have combined to rush for 100 yards four times this season. Knox helped put the Ohio State win out of a reach with a pair of long fourth-quarter touchdown runs. Meanwhile, Jones helped closed out the Indiana victory with a big performance in the second half.

They’ve also been solid in the passing game. Jones and Knox have been targeted a combined 46 times and caught 41 passes.

“We’ve always been competing against each other to make plays,” Knox said. “I feel we’ve made each other better athletes and learning how to work and how to fight through adversity and compete for a job. It’s been a great relationship.”

Familiar faces

Knox and Auburn starting left guard Marquel Harrell were teammates at Creekside High School in Fairburn, Georgia.

He’ll also face Tigers starting linebacker Montavious Atkinson, who is from Fairburn but attended Langston Hughes High School.

“We’re going to get after it,” Knox said.

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Nashville native Brycen Hopkins is back home for Purdue's bowl games. The Boilermakers have been practicing at his old high school, Ensworth.
Mike Carmin, Journal & Courier